Parlour ready for World Cup blow

Ray Parlour is bracing himself for the disappointment of being left out of Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad.

Despite his impressive streak of form that culminated with the stunning first goal in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea, the Arsenal midfielder still doesn't believe he will make it to Japan.

The England coach will name his 23 for Japan and South Korea on Thursday and many believe Parlour deserves a place.

But Parlour said today: "I might have missed the boat as far as the World Cup is concerned. Of course I would love to go and it would be fantastic if I do. You never give up hope of that until the squad is announced.

"But I don't believe I will be in it because I haven't been involved in any of the recent friendlies. So I will be delighted if I am in but ready for the disappointment if I am not. "

Eriksson, meanwhile, has admitted he is scared by the form of Sweden's World Cup danger man Freddie Ljungberg.

The Arsenal midfielder faces England in both countries' first match at the World Cup finals in Saitama on 2 June.

He scored a sensational goal in the FA Cup Final on Saturday and has now scored 17 goals for his club this season. Eriksson's No2, Tord Grip, revealed the England coach's concerns.

He admitted: "After watching his performance in the FA Cup Final, Sven is a little scared about Freddie.

"We will have to be careful with him at the World Cup - although we already knew he would be a threat."

The threat posed by Ljungberg has also been highlighted by Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, who lost out to the Gunners in the Cardiff showdown after putting in an impressive display that gives him a chance of making Eriksson's squad.

Lampard said: "At the moment Freddie Ljungberg is the best player in the whole country. He makes clinical runs and that finish in the Cup Final was tremendous. He is going to be a real threat to England."

There was fresh speculation today that midfielder Patrick Vieira will leave Highbury for Real Madrid this summer in a £30million move.

The France international is at present in talks with Arsenal about a one-year extension to his contract which has two years left to run.